From periods ending January 2016: All Sample Free Distribution copies must be delivered and made available within 24 hours of the majority of the rest of the distribution of the relevant issue.

Requirements relating to distribution across issues being on a regular and consistent basis and changes from previous certificates are ignored.

2. Prior notification of distribution details to ABC

You must obtain ABC’s agreement in advance of the distribution, having provided full details of timings, delivery locations etc as stipulated in the relevant Free Distribution category. This is to enable audit work to be conducted at the appropriate time, including real time testing where appropriate.

3. Distribution must be of an existing edition claimed on the certificate

The copies must be broadly similar to an existing edition being claimed on the certificate. Therefore a certificate cannot comprise copies claimed in the Sample Free Distribution category alone.

Reporting

You will report Sample Free Distribution as follows, which will be broken out on the ABC Certificate:

By total average Sample Free Distribution of the issues for the period, analysed by distribution category.

The number of issues for which Sample Free Distribution has been claimed.

A verifiable overview description of the Sample Free Distribution claim. For example: Letterbox distribution within postcode sectors HP1 to HP4.

As an option you may report, for each issue claimed:

The total Sample Free Distribution, analysed by distribution category and type.

For the distribution category Free Pick Up copies, an analysis by distribution type, and Distribution Point type and location as follows:

Distribution type. i.e. Net, Capped

A statement describing how and where the copies are distributed (covering both the geographical location and type of distribution point).

The date(s) the publication was made available at the Distribution Point(s) for pick up or receipt by consumers.

The number of copies.

The number of Distribution Points.

For the distribution category Free Letterbox Delivery, an analysis of the distribution by postcode sector.